Jhelum grapples with rising crime

Residents call for urgent intervention from higher authorities to restore law & order

JHELUM:

A sharp rise in robberies has sparked widespread concern in Jhelum, where crime has become a daily occurrence. In two incidents yesterday, a lone gunman held up and robbed a general store, and three armed men stole a Honda 125 motorcycle, further intensifying public fear and frustration with the local administration's repeated failure and inaction to curb crimes.

Jhelum city and its surrounding areas have seen a staggering surge in serious crimes over the past few years. Residents are increasingly alarmed as criminals continue to act with impunity, yet the administration's inaction persists. The recent incidents were no exception, underscoring the city's growing crime problem which have created an atmosphere of lawlessness. The local administration has been criticised for failing to address the issue, leaving citizens feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

In the first incident, a lone armed robber entered a private general store near Karimpura Road after Maghrib prayers. He held the cashier at gunpoint and fled with cash. CCTV footage obtained by the journalism team of Akhbar Haq Islamabad captured an image of the perpetrator, his firearm partially concealed.

In a separate incident, three armed bandits targeted Ijaz, a milk seller in Mohalla Islampura, at around 10:00 pm. The assailants stole his brand-new Honda 125 motorcycle at gunpoint. News of the robberies spread quickly, creating panic among the residents, many of whom now feel unsafe leaving their homes after dark.

The ongoing crime wave has led to growing frustration among the public, who accuse the police of failing to control the situation. Many residents have called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials to intervene and take urgent action to restore law and order in the city.